The Penang government has failed to pay RM70,000 to the Penang Chinese Clan Council after it co-organised the state's Chinese New Year celebrations earlier this year, MCA said today.

The council has only received RM10,000 out of the total RM80,000 it was promised to fund the event in February, said MCA Komtar task force head Tan Hing Teik.

"It is not that they have only paid 12.5 percent of the allocation to the council, but the Penang Chinese New Year Celebration's account is doubtful," Tan said in a statement today.

He claimed that over the years, the Penang Chinese New Year Celebration committee - the main host of the event prior to this year - had always made a surplus that was later donated to charity.

However, the state government "hijacked" the event this year and co-organised it with the clans, said Tan.

He alleged that the council made a loss this year, and questioned if corruption was involved.

Tan urged the Penang government to clarify the matter or risk being accused of a "conspiracy to deceive" the public.

He also claimed that the state administration had marginalised Penang's Chinese cultural heritage and had provided more allocation to Islamic affairs.

"In the previous two general elections, Penang Chinese supported DAP very much.

"But now, the DAP turns to invade Penang Chinese, by trying to carry out untold money activities through hijacking all Penang Chinese folk activities.

"These folk activities have fixed sponsors over the year; this attractive piece of meat is being coveted by the Penang government.

"Penang government is despicable and shameful, when the Penang Chinese see the truth, they will cast aside DAP in the next election," said Tan.

'Will be delivered as promised'

When contacted, Penang Chinese New Year Celebration 2016 committee chairperson and DAP's Tanjung MP Ng Wei Aik refused to comment, saying it was a waste of time.

However, during a press conference yesterday, Ng said the remaining RM70,000 allocation will be delivered to the council as promised.

"I will not evade and will discuss with the state government on how to solve this matter.

"If the state government cannot help, I will find my own way to honor the promise," he was quoted as saying in the Chinese media.

Ng urged the council to submit the names of organisations which are making the claims so that the organising committee can deal with them directly.

He said the organising committee failed to deliver the full allocation due to difficulties in obtaining sponsors under the current bad economic situation.

"Futhermore, the Chinese New Year Celebration 2016 event has gone over budget," Ng was quoted as saying in Chinese daily Kwong Wah Jit Poh yesterday.